Toyota Etios Cross Review, Images, Details and Specs: Butch Couture

Engine and performance

Toyota is offering the Etios Cross with three engine variants. The most basic of the three engines is the 1.2 liter (1197cc) 4 cylinder petrol, with the 1.5 liter (1496cc) petrol being the other gasoline powered option. Finally there is also the 1.4 liter (1364cc) 4 cylinder D-4D diesel engine on offer.

The 1.2 liter petrol variant is available only in the basic G trim. On the other hand, the 1.5 liter petrol variant is available only in the top of the line V trim. Only the 1.4 diesel is available in both GD and VD variants. You can have a detailed look at the features available in all the variants in chart available elsewhere in this review. Let’s have a look at the available engine options one by one.

Etios Cross 1.2 liter Petrol

The most basic engine in the lineup, the 1.2 liter gasoline engine on the Etios Cross is good for 80 PS of peak power at 5600 rpm, and 104 Nm of peak torque at 3100 rpm. Fuel efficiency for the engine is rated at 17.71 kmpl by ARAI. We didn’t drive this version of the car, as it was not available for the media drive program. This engine, however should appeal to you if budget is a constraint and maximum fuel efficiency is the most important criteria for you, with rapid acceleration and top speed being low on priority list.

Etios Cross 1.5 liter Petrol

The 1.5 liter petrol engine on the Etios Cross is the pick of the lot for the enthusiasts. The rev happy unit is redlined at 5900 rpm on the tacho whose needle loves to swing all the way up to the limiter without a fuss. Even with the revvy character of the engine, there is a good amount of torque available at the lower end of the rev spectrum, offering good drivability within the city. The engine is extremely smooth and says tons about Toyota’s quality and engineering in the way it sounds and responds to throttle inputs.

The Etios Cross 1.5 petrol tacho is redlined at 5900 rpm

With peak power rated at 90PS @ 5600 rpm and peak torque output of 132 Nm at 3000 Nm, this is one naturally aspirated petrol engine we love driving while being in a small car. The engine also has a pleasant aural note to it – muffled yet sporty. We love the way the thing sounds.

Surprisingly enough, even with about 300cc of extra cubic capacity, 10 PS of extra power and 28 Nm of extra torque, this engine isn’t too off its smaller sibling’s fuel efficiency figure. With an ARAI rating 16.78 kmpl, the 1.5 petrol Etios Cross shouldn’t make any drastic difference to your monthly fuel bill as compared to the smaller 1.2 petrol version.

Etios Cross 1.4 Diesel

This one should top the sales chart, as well as the practicality quotient for the majority of potential customers. The 1.4 liter diesel unit on the Etios Cross offer is a smooth unit with linear power and torque delivery. The engine makes the car extremely tractable at slow speeds in slow city conditions where you require frequent braking, eliminating the need for repeated gearshifts.

While power and torque ratings aren’t too impressive at 68 PS @ 3800 rpm and 170 Nm @ 1800-2400 rpm, the car feels adequately powered and accelerates briskly. The impressive low end torque also aids throttle response greatly. Fuel efficiency is rated at a high 23.59 kmpl, and this engine shouldn’t leave you with anything to complain about in the real world.

The 1.4 diesel variant is redlined at 5100 rpm

If we really have to nitpick, the noise from the engine gets a tad louder than idea post 2500 rpm, and intrudes the cabin. But in all honesty, which mainstream entry level car powered with a diesel engine is quiet enough?

Transmission duties are taken care of by 5 speed manual boxes on all three variants. There is nothing to complain about the transmission either.

In all, the Etios Cross offers one of the widest choice of engines in the small car segment, with each unit offering good performance and efficiency. You wouldn’t go wrong with any of the power-plants on the Cross, though we as enthusiasts would be inclined to choose one of the bigger engine units.

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